Northeast Region:
(Information provided by the Northeast
Regional Climate Center)
- Temperatures in the Northeast during the last month of summer
averaged 66.6°F (19.2°C), which was 1.4°F
(0.8°C) below normal. This was 2.7°F (1.5°C) cooler
than August 2007 and it was the coolest August since 1997. All of
the states in the region had below-average temperatures during the
month. Departures ranged from 0.6°F (0.3°C) below normal
in Maine to 2.4°F (1.3°C) below normal in Maryland.
- Once again, the northern states were wetter than the southern
half of the region, but not as wet overall as last month. In fact,
the Northeast region, as a whole, averaged below normal
precipitation in August. The region's average rainfall total of 3.6
inches (9 mm) was 90% of normal. New Hampshire and Vermont saw the
most rain, 127% and 118% of normal, respectively. It was the driest
August in 114 years in Delaware, where only 1.0 inches (25 mm) of
rain fell. Delaware's August total was 3.6 inches (93 mm) below
normal.
- The Drought Monitor issued on September 2, 2008 indicated that
the southernmost parts of New Jersey and West Virginia eastern
Maryland, a small area in north central Pennsylvania and most of
Delaware were experiencing moderate drought conditions. The rest of
New Jersey, central and southeastern Pennsylvania, central Maryland
and southern West Virginia were abnormally dry. In contrast, Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, eastern New York, western
Pennsylvania and all but coastal Massachusetts were in the unusual
or very moist categories of the Palmer Drought Severity
Index.
For more information, please go to the Northeast
Regional Climate Center Home Page.
Midwest Region:
(Information provided by the Midwest
Regional Climate Center)
- Temperatures across the Midwest were generally below normal
during the month, with the coolest area in north-central Missouri
where departures were 3°F (1.7°C) below normal. The
central Midwest also had average daily maximum temperatures that
ranged 3°F - 5°F (1.7°C - 2.8°C) below normal.
The warmest area was a band across the northern and eastern
portions of the region, where temperatures were near normal to
1.5°F (0.8°C) above normal. Repeated intrusions of
cooler, drier air kept the normally muggy August weather at bay and
only a few humid periods occurred during the month.
- August was a very dry month across the Midwest. Precipitation
was below normal across the entire region, with only a few isolated
areas receiving near normal rainfall. In those areas that did
receive normal rainfall, much of the rain was not spread out across
the month but came during one or two events. Rainfall in August was
less than 25 percent of normal from northern Minnesota through
northern Wisconsin into northwestern Ohio, as well as the Ohio
Valley. The only area to receive normal to above normal rainfall
was extreme southern Missouri and parts of central Missouri. For
most of the region, August rainfall totals were well below two
inches (51 mm). By the end of the month the U.S. Drought Monitor
was depicting areas of Moderate Drought (D1) in Minnesota,
Wisconsin, and southeastern Kentucky. Abnormal Dryness (D0)
expanded across Ohio, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
- Severe weather occurred on an occasional and scattered basis
during the month. A strong "bow echo" system raced through northern
Illinois and Indiana on August 4 causing widespread wind damage. In
Illinois the most significant damage was in the Chicago area and
suburbs. Commonwealth Edison reported that 427,000 customers were
affected by the storm, with 238,000 still without power on the
morning of August 5. At least three tornadoes were confirmed in
northeastern Illinois, and a wind gust of 94 mph (151 kph) was
recorded by an automated station located at the Harrison Crib in
Lake Michigan about 4 miles NNE of downtown Chicago. A sellout
crowd of 40,867 at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs-Houston
Astros game was directed to seek shelter in the stadium concourse
areas when tornado sirens went off at 8:09 pm CDT. Passengers at
Chicago's O'Hare Airport were evacuated to the lower level of the
terminals when the storms hit, and 350 flights were canceled. A 23
year-old man was killed in La Porte County, IN when a tree toppled
by high winds fell on his car. A confirmed EF2 tornado touched down
in Griffith, IN about 8:40 pm CDT, producing at least a five-mile
path of damage. A second Indiana tornado (EF0) was confirmed in
Boswell. The only other significant severe weather occurrence was
on August 28 when severe thunderstorms rolled through northern and
central Missouri and into western Illinois, producing wind damage
and locally heavy rain. There were no tornadoes reported in the
nine-state Midwest region during the last half of the
month.
For details on the weather and climate events of the Midwest during
August, see the weekly summaries in the
MRCC Midwest Climate Watch page.
Southeast Region:
(Information provided by the Southeast Regional
Climate Center)
- Similar to July, average temperatures for August 2008 were
within 2°F (1°C) of normal over much of the region.
During the first 7 to 10 days, a southwesterly to westerly flow
persisted across much of the southeast resulting in hot conditions.
Roughly 90% of the record high temperatures for the month occurred
during this period. Camp Hill, AL and Eastman, GA each recorded a
record high of 102°F (39°C) on August 7th. With the
passage of several cold fronts, a cooler regime developed during
the second week and persisted until August 20th across the region,
except for Florida. There were over 100 record low temperatures
observed during this period. Clayton, GA and Waynesville, NC each
recorded record lows of 51°F (11°C) and 45°F
(7°C), respectively, on August 7th. Temperatures in Puerto
Rico were several degrees above normal as San Juan recorded record
high temperatures on two days during the month.
- In contrast to prior months, over three-quarters of the region
received above normal rainfall. Huntsville, AL recorded above
normal monthly precipitation for the first time since October 2006,
ending a stretch of 21 normal or dry months. Most of Florida and
Alabama, as well southern Georgia, central North Carolina and
portions of southern Virginia received more than 150% of normal
precipitation for the month. Jacksonville and Tallahassee, FL each
recorded over 16.5 inches (419 mm) of precipitation, making it the
wettest August on record for these two sites. Much of this
precipitation was connected with Tropical Storm Fay, which tracked
slowly across FL, southern AL, and MS between August 18 and 23
before weakening into a tropical depression and moving slowly
northeastward into eastern TN and KY by August 27th. Fay and her
remnants affected portions of the Southeast over a 10-day period in
the second half of August. Due to Fay's slow motion, storm
precipitation totals were quite impressive in places. Thomasville,
GA and Melbourne, FL, for example, recorded monthly totals of 27.5
inches (699 mm) and 19.6 inches (498 mm), respectively.
Additionally, Concord, NC broke its all time 24 hour precipitation
record with a total of 8.8 inches (224 mm). Heavy precipitation was
also observed in connection with an extratropical cyclone that
tracked unusually far south across the region on August 13th. Broad
areas of AL, GA, SC, and southern NC received rainfall totals
between 1.5 - 6.0 inches (38 - 152 mm). Monthly precipitation
totals in Puerto Rico during the month were quite variable.
- Drought conditions persisted across portions of the region
during the month of August. The heavy rainfall, however, reduced
the drought intensity in most places by the end of the month.
Exceptional drought conditions continued to plague northwestern
South Carolina, northeast Georgia and western NC. Fay's rainfall,
however, reduced the intensity of the drought slightly over all but
northwestern SC. A broad area of severe to extreme drought
persisted across eastern Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, and Virginia, although Fay's rainfall reduced the
intensity of the drought over much of the region with the exception
of southeastern VA and northeastern NC. At least 89 tornadoes were
observed across the region during August, but have not yet been
officially confirmed. Approximately 68 of these tornadoes were
associated with Fay and her remnants. This preliminary count far
surpasses the previous the previous record of 37 tropical
storm-spawned tornadoes associated with Tropical Storm Beryl in
1994.
For more information, please go to the Southeast Regional
Climate Center Home Page.
High Plains Region:
(Information provided by the High Plains
Regional Climate Center)
- Much of the region experienced their hottest days this month at
the beginning August, with many stations setting records and
reporting temperatures above 100°F (38°C). North Dakota
and South Dakota, however, had their warmest days at the end of the
month. The highest temperature in the region was 111°F
(44°C), recorded at both Imperial, NE on August 2nd and at
John Martin Dam, CO on August 4th. At both locations not only did
this set a new record high temperature for the day, but also for
the month. Interestingly, at John Martin Dam, CO, the 2nd all-time
high for the month occurred two days earlier and the 3rd all time
high for the month occurred just the day before. At Imperial, the
previous record high for the day was 104°F (40°C) set
back in 1970 and at John Martin Dam, CO the old record for the day
of 103°F (39°C) was set back in 1980. The lowest
temperature in the region, 20°F (-7°C), occurred at
Darwin Ranch, WY on August 27th and ranked as the 4th all time low
temperature for that day.
- August 2008 was dry for portions of central and eastern
Nebraska, western Colorado, northern Wyoming, and the Dakotas. As
drought conditions continue in Wyoming, the paucity of
precipitation in eastern Nebraska and South Dakota helped
contribute to the development of abnormally dry and moderate
drought conditions. However, heavy rains in eastern Colorado and
western Kansas helped alleviate drought conditions there, with many
locations receiving 150-300% of normal precipitation. Highlights of
the precipitation totals include Greeley UNC, CO which received 7.0
inches (178 mm) and Alton, KS which received 9.4 inches (238 mm) of
precipitation throughout the month. This resulted in Greeley UNC,
CO receiving 595% and Alton, KS receiving 300% of their normal
precipitation for the month of August. Far southeastern Wyoming
also saw precipitation that was above 300% of normal. Cheyenne, WY
saw an impressive 6.6 inches (166 mm) of precipitation, or 360% of
normal.
- At least four tornadoes were spotted August 24th in Douglas
County Colorado which is just south of the Denver metro area. Only
tree damage was reported.
For more information, please go to the High Plains
Regional Climate Center Home Page.
Southern Region:
(Information provided by the Southern
Regional Climate Center)
- In the month of August, average temperatures in the Southern
Region were generally within a few degrees of normal. In
northeastern Oklahoma and north central Arkansas, temperatures for
the month did dip 3.0 - 4.0°F (1.5-2°C) below normal.
- Precipitation for the month of August was generally above
normal for most of the Southern Region, with the exception of
central and northern Tennessee. Elsewhere, precipitation was
generally well above normal, with the majority of the six-state
region reporting more than twice the monthly average. Anomalously
high precipitation in eastern Texas is partially explained by the
arrival of Tropical Storm Edouard, which made landfall in southern
Gilchrist, Texas on the morning of August 5, 2008. Jefferson County
reported over 4.0 inches (100 mm) of rainfall from Edouard, while
in the Houston area, about 6.5 (165 mm) of precipitation was
received. Edouard continued to track into north central Texas,
where rainfall totals of 6.0 inches (152 mm) were also reported. In
Mississippi and Louisiana, anomalously high monthly values of
precipitation were partially the result of Tropical Depression Fay.
Fay made landfall as a tropical storm along the Florida Peninsula
on August, 18, 2008. Fay tracked up the peninsula and then turned
westward, moving across the Florida panhandle. On the 23rd of the
month, Fay was downgraded to a tropical depression as it made its
way across southern Mississippi. On the 24th, Fay pushed into West
Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, and then pushed northeastward across
Mississippi. The heaviest one day totals from Fay in the Southern
Region varied from 2.0 - 3.0 inches (50 - 76 mm).
- Drought conditions were generally improved over last month due
to Tropical Storm Edouard tracking across southeastern and central
Texas region. A two category improvement also occurred in the
Oklahoma panhandle. In Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee,
Tropical depression Fay helped eradicate dry conditions.
Specifically, severe drought in central and northern Louisiana was
eliminated. Similarly, moderate drought, which was present in north
eastern Mississippi, is now gone.
For more information, please go to the Southern
Regional Climate Center Home Page.
Western Region:
(Information provided by the Western
Regional Climate Center)
- Temperatures in the West ranged from above normal in the Great
Basin and the Southwest to below normal in the northwest, and much
of Colorado and New Mexico. California was very warm inland, and
cooler than usual along the coast. Reno, NV, Redding, CA, and
Modesto, CA recorded their warmest August on record. An unusually
cold storm hit the east side of the Front Range from Cheyenne, WY,
to Pueblo, CO, on the 15th and 16th, with heavy rain and very cool
temperatures. Cheyenne measured 2.1 inches (53 mm) of rain on the
15th with a high temperature of only 49°F (10°C). Their
previous coolest maximum temperature for August 15th was 60°F
(18°C), set in 1888. Anchorage continued with their cool
summer as only 2 days have reached 70°F (21°C) so far.
The previous low record through August is 3 days of 70°F or
above, set in 1980.
- Precipitation was above normal in western Washington and
northwest Oregon, northern Idaho, and eastern Colorado while most
of the intermountain west was below normal except for isolated
pockets in Utah and the southwest. Phoenix, AZ, measured their 6th
wettest August on record and the wettest since 1990, while Tucson
had below normal rainfall for the month. Cheyenne's total of 6.6
inches (166 mm) is their 3rd wettest month on record going back 94
years, and just behind Aug 1930 (6.7 inches / 170 mm) and August
1985 (6.6 inches / 168 mm).
- Strong thunderstorms in southern Nevada on the 7th produced
flash flooding in Mountain Springs with 3 feet (90 cm) of water in
some buildings. A 4-year old boy was knocked unconscious by
lightning in Henderson and his mother was partially paralyzed by
the strike. Many portions of Las Vegas were under water from this
event. On the 17th, a flash flood occurred on the Havasupai Indian
Reservation in Arizona, flooding the community of Supai. This was
caused by heavy rain breaching the Redlands Dam some 45-50 miles
(72-80 km) upstream. Although over 200 people were evacuated or
rescued, there were no fatalities in the narrow canyon. In the town
of Big River, CA, near the Colorado River, one person was trapped
and killed as his vehicle was caught in a flash flood on the 25th.
Also that day, one person died and 5 were injured near Bouse, AZ as
their vehicle was swept away in a flash flood. On August 31, a
climate station run by the Western Regional Climate Center atop
White Mountain Summit, CA measured a daily mean speed of 60.6 mph
(97.5 kph) and a gust of 96.5 mph (155.3 kph). Another station on
the top of 12,327 ft (3757 m) Mt Warren, just east of Yosemite
National Park, recorded a mean daily wind speed of 66.3 mph (29.6
m/s), and a peak gust of 109.4 mph (48.9 m/s), and five hours over
100 mph (44.7 m/s), a highly unusual wind speed for this season,
though such winds are common in winter. Cottonwood trees were blown
over north of Lee Vining, CA, and a kayaker drowned during reported
80 mph (128.7 kph) winds on adjoining Mono Lake.
For more information, please go to the Western
Regional Climate Center Home Page.
Alaska: (Information provided by Audrey
Rubel at NOAA NWS Alaska Region Headquarters.)
- Much of Alaska experienced a below average August, with cool
weather early in the month and late in the month. Slightly above
average temperatures were prevalent through out much of Alaska
during the middle of the month, but not enough to balance out the
monthly average. The average maximum temperature in Fairbanks was
64.5 °F ( 18.1°C) and the average minimum temperature was
45.5 °F (7.5°C). The panhandle saw cooler than normal
daytime highs (2.7°F (-16.3°C)), though daily average
temperatures were at or near normal. Nome tied two record low
maximum temperatures during the first part of August. The first
occurred on August 3rd when they tied the 1947 record of
46.0°F (7.8°C). Then on August 6, Nome tied the record
low maximum with a high temperature of only 47.0°F
(8.3°C). The previous record was set on 1963. Nome also broke
two record highs. The first record, previously set in 2005 of
68.0°F (20.0°C) on August 16 and the second record was
70.0°F (21.1°C) which was previously set in 2004.
- The state of Alaska posted monthly precipitation totals that
were below normal. The notable exception to this was the southern
panhandle which saw significantly higher than normal rain for the
month. Northern panhandle locations saw considerable rain during
the second week with some places getting nearly 2.5 inches (64mm)
on the 13th. Southcentral Alaska received below normal
precipitation amounts during the month of August with the exception
of Kodiak, which added to its surplus of yearly rainfall with a
179% of normal amount for the month. Fairbanks received 2.66 inches
(68mm) of rainfall which is nearly an inch below normal. None of
this rainfall fell during the final two weeks of the year, which is
the first time in more than 100 years of records that the last two
weeks have been completely dry. A new daily record was set for
August 3 in Kotzebue with 0.6 inches (15mm) of rain. The previous
record for that date was set back in 1953. Nome measured only 0.6
inches (14mm) of rainfall for the month which was 2.67 inches
(68mm) below the average for August and Barrow tied the 6th driest
August on record with only 0.3 inches (8mm) of
precipitation.
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